BOLD VENTURES August 2026
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
This year we definitely have had some hazy crazy summer days, but BOLD’s planners have not been lazy. Enjoy what we have planned for August.
Would you like to see your name in lights, and enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame?
Well, we don’t have a BOLD marquis, and we can’t promise that much fame, but you can be recognized as a hero by being a BOLD Ventures sponsor. Your sponsorship will help us make BOLD Ventures available in various formats--email, braille, print, and large print, and voice recording. Choose from two levels of sponsorship. For a $50 donation you can get your name and a short greeting in BOLD Ventures. For $75 you can get your name, a short greeting and a color picture of your choice in the newsletter. For more information and to set up your sponsorship, contact Debby at 412-742-4288 or dm-hill@comcast.net.
Thanks to everyone who has paid BOLD dues for 2026. If you have not paid dues, your membership has expired which means that you cannot participate in BOLD’s fun events. You will continue to receive BOLD Ventures and announcements, however, if you do not want to receive BOLD emails, there are directions for unsubscribing at the end of this newsletter.
AUGUST CALENDAR
Saturday, August 1, from 6 to 8 pm, Roller Skating, Schenley outdoor Skating Rink, 10341 Overlook Drive Near, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. No cost. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced skater or you haven’t been skating for a long time, come join us for some fun! Make your reservation with Hana by 8 pm Sunday, July 26, by calling or texting 412-818-1489.
Monday, August 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Board Meeting in-person at Western PA School for Blind Children, 250 N. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Carol at 484-318-9145 by Saturday, August 1.
Tuesday, August 4, from 8 to 9:30 pm, Virtual Card/Board/Dice Games setup and training, sponsored by SE Wisconsin BOLD. Would you like to learn how to play card games and familiarize board games with other BOLD Ones or anybody in the world? Since 2009, RS Games has developed online board, card, and dice games that are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Over 20 games are currently available including Monopoly, Uno, Blackjack, Yahtzee, Farkle and Scrabble. Rachel and Joel Ramos of SE Wisconsin BOLD are graciously offering to take time to help you get set up and learn the basics of navigating the game system. It’s easy and they can quickly get you set up with a free RS Games account and get you familiar with the game environment. To sign up for training call Rachael or Joel at 904-335-7880.
Wednesday, August 5, from 8 to 9:30 pm, SE Wisconsin BOLD Virtual Card/Board/Dice RS Games Night. No cost. If you need training or help setting up your RS game account, see the Calendar item for August 4. No reservation needed for this game night, but to get information for the online game room for you to join, call Rachael at 904-335-7880.
Mondays, August 10 and 24, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm, Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall. Cost is free. Lunch is on your own at the food court. Sighted guides and visually impaired walkers sign up by noon the Monday prior to the walk by calling Peggy at 412-683-6070 or text/call her at 412-977-2351. To sign up for walking on August 10, contact Peggy by noon Monday, August 3. And for walking on August 24, contact Peggy by noon August 17. Be sure to sign up so that if there is any change or cancellation for mall walking, you will get the information. (Note, for mall walking to occur we need a minimum of four mall walkers.)
Saturday, August 15, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, Tandem Biking, Montour Trail, Tandem Connection Bicycle Shop, 5 Georgetown Road, Canonsburg, 15317. No charge for the ride and pizza from Vincent's Pizza. We need some sighted bikers to captain the tandem bikes and provide rides to and from the trailhead. Scotto will be there early to give tips and instructions for being a tandem captain and pair up captains and stokers. We will provide tandem bikes. However, if you know of a tandem we can use, please let us know about it. If you are a willing captain with questions, contact Scotto at scottog@yahoo.com. Everyone should make their reservation by 9 pm Saturday, August 8. Sighted captains contact Scotto at scottog@yahoo.com; blind and low-vision stokers contact Nancy at 412-561-3972 or email nancy.leverett1@verizon.net.
Sunday, August 23, from 8:30 am to 2 pm, Water Skiing on the Allegheny River, 101 Arch Street, Verona, 15147. There is no cost thanks to the generosity of our host Golden Triangle Water Ski Club (GTWSC), who will provide this exciting water skiing experience and picnic lunch for members of BOLD and Three Rivers Adaptive Sports (TRAS). Everyone will meet at the Steel City Rowing Club boathouse and launch at 8:30 am. Skiers and volunteers will be shuttled to the GTWSC Nine Mile Island facility a short pontoon boat ride away on the Allegheny River. Skiers will ride the river from 9:00 am until noon, followed by a picnic lunch during which they can enjoy good food, socialize and recap the day’s fun! If you like, bring water and a snack. If you are visually impaired and also have a physical disability, you could have the opportunity to use special equipment from TRAS, that will enable you to water ski while sitting. To use their equipment, you must complete their registration form which can be found on the TRAS website and submit it by August 12. You also need to call Mark at TRAS at 412-848-8896 or email, mark4tras@comcast.net by August 12 or as soon as possible so they can get the correct equipment for you from storage. Reservations with BOLD are due by 9 pm on August 12 with Nancy by calling 412-561-3972.
Wednesday, August 26, from 7 to 9:30 pm, SE Wisconsin BOLD virtual bingo, for all the sign-up information, leave a voicemail or text Tammi at 412-951-6528 or email at tswiantek@comcast.net. Good Luck!
Monday, August 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, September’s Board Meeting in-person at Western PA School for Blind Children, 250 N. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Carol at 484-318-9145 by Saturday, August 29.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, September 13 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, tandem Biking, Eliza Furnace Trail. Meet at the Eliza Furnace Trailhead in the POGOH Hub parking lot, Swinburne Street, 15207. No charge for the ride and Pizza lunch from Pizza Pronto Oakland. More details in the September BOLD Ventures.
Sometime in September, A visit to the Aviary. Yes, BOLD is going to the birds. Stay tuned for all of the details in September’s BOLD Ventures.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
We are getting close to fall, so soon there will be tickets for BOLD members available for the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Pops concerts. (We may have tickets for chamber music concerts, but that has not been confirmed.) Tony will be calling people who have requested tickets in the past to get their ticket orders. Please be aware that this year the number of tickets available for each concert is limited, so only order tickets for concerts you are sure you will actually attend. If you have any questions, call Tony at 412-310-2508 or email tony.diana.rock@gmail.com.
BOLD BITS
Congratulations to our president Carol Lubecki on the arrival of a new grandchild. Carol’s Son, Nick and his wife Laura welcomed baby Arthur on Saturday, July 18. Best wishes to the Lubecki family!
My BOLD Take By Lisa Busch
Savoring! On a warm Sunday afternoon in June, Bold members were invited to CoNectar Flora to Table, 411 Grant Avenue to learn how to savor honey. A connoisseur of honey, trained in Italy, Christina instructed us to smell each sample, think about its texture in our mouths and then to explore taste. That was all fine and good when sweet honey touched my tongue, like the popsicle with honey drizzled on it. Its taste reminded me of how lilacs or honeysuckles smell, but the taste was pleasant and not overpowering. It was also interesting to coat pretzels and cheese with honey. Pollen tasting? No thank you! It felt like a crumb in my mouth that dissolved into a mild bitter herb insistent on lingering till the first honey sweetness washed it away. Christina gave us an extensive amount of information about honeybees as well, but don't ask me to repeat anything she said. What I remember most is sticky hands and laughter. A BOLD thanks to Christina and her cadre of volunteers for an informative and fun afternoon!
Happy August Birthday to:
John Dern, Connie Elosser, Charlotte Ford, Leslie Gottschalk, Brooke Householder, Joseph Hoyle, Ryan Leverett, Marty Mathews, Randi Shelton, Debi Sterling, Tobi Williams and anyone else celebrating an August birthday!
NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Thanks to the great work of Marty Mathews, anyone can hear a recording of this newsletter by calling 401-252-0029 Access Code: 265365#.
CONTACT US
WPA BOLD
PO Box 10307
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Donate: Donate
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wpabold
Editors: Debby Hill & friends
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